Jihad

Core Beliefs

Islam is monotheistic, placing faith in one God known as Allah.
Tawhid is the belief in the oneness and unity of Allah.
Belief in the existence and oneness of Allah is fundamental to Islamic belief and is part of the Shahada which also affirms Muhammad as the last Prophet.
Muslims believe in angels as servants and messengers of Allah, created from light.
Prophets in Islam are humans chosen by Allah to deliver his message; Muhammad is considered the last and greatest of these.
The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad.
Another article of faith is belief in the predestination; everything happens in accordance with Allah’s will.

Muslims believe in life after death, known as the Akhirah.
After death, people will be judged by Allah on their actions during their life.
There is belief in Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), where people will go based on their actions during life.

The Five Pillars of Islam (Iman, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, Hajj) are fundamental acts of worship that Muslims follow.
Salah is daily prayer that strengthens the relationship between Allah and Muslims; there are 5 obligatory prayers daily.
Zakah is the practice of charitable giving, usually at least 2.5% of a Muslim’s wealth.
Sawm is fasting during Ramadan, and it’s seen as time for spiritual reflection.
Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca; it is a duty for all physically and financially able Muslims at least once in their life.

Eid-al-Fitr is a celebration at the end of Ramadan.
Eid-al-Adha celebrates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah; it’s marked by the sacrifice of an animal.

Jihad meaning struggle, is both an internal spiritual struggle and an external physical struggle.
The greater Jihad refers to the struggle against evil within oneself.
The lesser Jihad refers to the struggle against evil in the world, including warfare if justified and properly executed.